مجله مطالعات ایرانی
پیاپی 22 (پاییز 1391)

“Dādestān-e Minūy-e Kherad” is one of the Zoroastrian middle Persian texts whose subject is the questions asked by an imaginary character, named “Dānā”, and the responses of another imaginary character named “Minūy-e Kherad”. Since it contains advices, it is considered as a Pahlavi andarz-nāmeh. Furthermore, mythological and cosmological subjects are found in this text. It is supposed that the mentioned text has been compiled in Sassanid’s era. This text is of great importance from linguistic point of view, particularly word formation.Based on the derivational morphology, there are four types of words in middle Persian: simple, derivative, compound and phrase. Each type has different forms. Derivative and compound words have many different kinds, respectively based on different affixes and part of speech of the words combined. The present study investigates simple and derivative nouns and adjectives from derivational morphology point of view. According to their origin, simple words are divided into three groups and complex words into two groups based on their derivational affixes. In each category, word formation methods and patterns are extracted and shown with some examples. In the end, specific features of the text including special and rare patterns and low frequent and non-productive affixes are mentioned.

Architecture is the container for life and all aspects of human life could be manifested in architecture; as a result, many urban and architectural terms can be found in literary or common speech.This study is an attempt to examine the use of urban and architectural terms in Persian folk literature by focusing on Dehkhoda’s Amsal-o-Hekam.In the first step the research was conducted in alphabetical order; it then assumed analytical approach. The first section of this analysis refers to verbs and verbal combinations. The second and third sections concentrate on architectural and urban words and terms.The study shows that some of the beautiful architectural verbs and verb combinations can be used more frequently today and can also replace some foreign terms. Almost all different aspects of architecture such as urban and architectural terms can be traced in Amsal-o-Hekam as well.

After their birth among primitive men and their reappearance, myths gained a special position in art and literature in the form of ‎symbols and metaphors. The appearance and frequency of symbols, ideas and stories whose origins could be traced back in the ancient times make some masterpieces everlasting. Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh is one of the important mythological and epic masterpieces ‎that perceives full mythical symbols, especially in the story of Rostam and Esfandiar. This article examines the mythical relations ‎between a set of colors and numbers in Ferdowsi’s story and other story elements. These instances, sometimes chosen purposefully, move in the way of story completion, through a certain harmony with characters, their identity and the story incidents.

Many heroes and wonderful beings, whose presence strengthens the epic atmosphere in their literary heritage, appear in myths and epics of nations. Of these wonderful beings in Iranian national epic are the women of "Herum" who, according to the experts, are the Amazons of the Greek mythology. This study compares the characteristics of the women of Herum, as mentioned in "Shāhnāmeh", with their counterparts in Greek sources and myths. This comparison shows the quality of the combination of myths from different nations. Also by studying different manifestations of myths, their transference from one land to another can be examined and it would be of great advantage to Anthropology and historical ethnography.

Numismatics is an important part of archeology which is the valid and undeniable document about different ancient nations up to the present time. On the one hand, coins introduce the exact date of a government or a civilization and on the other, they illuminate some unclear aspects of the history.Coins can be representatives of the culture, customs, art, script, language and religion of any nation throughout history, and have been greatly helpful to archeologists.This study tries to examine coins and their designs in the Parthian era since Arses I of Persia (191-211 BC. M) to Mithridates II of Parthia (88-123 BC. M.).

This study examines the symbolic meaning of moon in the myths of ancient Iran and its reflection in the thoughts of Molana. Based on the different usages of the concept of moon in Molana’s Mathnavi and his sonnets, and also regarding the diverse symbolic meaning of moon in myths, the present study categorizes, describes and reflects the symbolic meaning of moon and its influence on Molana’s thoughs. It is concluded that symbols have played an important role in religious, cultural and mythological teachings, and have greatly influenced Molana in providing specific meanings for them. Therefore, some of these meanings related to moon are original to Molana himself, while others originate from cultural traditions.

Because of his Gnostic and mystical attitude, Mani put a great deal of emphasis on Wisdom. According to Manichaeanism, the soul has a divine origin that has been entangled in the prison of the body. It requires a great deal of power to save it from the enslavement and return it to the original homeland. Wisdom and awareness is the most important support in the difficult process of soul’s salvation and redemption. The soul is a light that Ahreman (Matter) has stolen and put into the human body which he created. The soul, too, has forgotten that its homeland is not this devilish hell. For this reason, such great gods as Xradēšahryazd, the Great Nous and the Angel of Light rushed to the aid of Human with the weapon of reason and continued this through the prophets. Claiming the salvation of humanity, Mani established a solid religious community called the Elects through whom − according to Manicheans − he tried to continue the path of human’s awareness and his redemption to the Frašegird (end of the world). A lot of Manichaean hymns have survived in different languages describing Wisdom, redeeming gods and wise Elects which show the high position of wisdom, with its mystical concept in the Manichaeism.

Cities as one of men’s residences have been created, developed and changed during the history and have experienced youth and old age period. Remains from old days of the cities appear in the form of historical textures, old textures, and worn out textures. The old city construction sometimes enjoys historical value and sometimes lacks it; therefore, it is necessary to study whether it deserves preservation, or reconstruction and renovation. However, the broken down texture, which is one of the most important city complications, lacks historical value and is destroyed rapidly for reconstruction. Kerman is a city with both a developing new texture and an ancient texture. This study discusses and analyzes the old texture of Kerman city which is changing into a broken down texture; suggestions are also provided for its preservation, reconstruction, and renovation.

This article is a scientific approach for the purpose of studying cultural symbols in Kerman’s carpet. In order to realize the non-material phenomena (myths and cultural symbols) of the motifs in Kerman’s carpet and arrive at their massage, firstly, the material phenomena such as the carpet’s plan, structural elements of its design, design categories, etc. must be examined. The information for this study has been gathered through field study, library research, oral documentation and descriptive ethnography.